Autograph time-recorder.



F. H. COTTRILL n A. LEIHAMMER.

AUTOGRAPH TIME RECORDER. APPLICATION HLED APB. 24.1907.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Patented Feb. 9, 1909.

F. H. COTT'RILL A.'LEIHAMMER.

AUTOGRAPH TIME RECORDER.

APPLIOATION FILED APR. 24.1907.

mwa/JW V MM @fw TH: NoRnls Perses co.. wAsHmcrcN. v4 cA F. H. GTTRILL &A. LEIHAMMER.

AUTOGRAPH TIME RECORDER.

APILIOATION FILED APR.24.1907.

Patented Feb. 9, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

1HE NoRms PETERS co.. wAsHlNcroN, n. c.

FRANK H. GOTTRILL AND ALFRED LEIHAMMER, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

AUTOGRAPH TIME-RECORDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application tiled April 24, 1907.

Patented Feb. 9, 1909.

Serial No. 369,980.

1o att whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FRANK H. CorrnrLL and ALFRED Lninnararnn, citizensof the United States, and residents of Milwaukee, in the county ofMilwaukee and State of Vfisconsin, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in rlutograph Time- Recorders; and we do hereby declarethat the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

Our invention consists in certain peculiarities of construction andcombination of parts as hereinafter described and claimed with referenceto the accompanying drawings, its object being to provide simple andaccurate autographic time recorders, 'he same being so arranged andconstructed that parties signing their names upon an exposed portion ofa paper tape, and thereafter moving the tape by a system of levers, villcause a registration of the exact time of signing, to be printed uponsaid tape opposite the signatures.

ln the drawings: Figure i represents a longitudinal sectional view of atime-recorder embodying the features of our invention, the section beingindicated by line l-l of F ig. 2; Fig. 2, a plan view of the same with aportion of the casing broken away to show portions of the printing` andtape feedmechanisms; Fig. 3, a cross-section of the recorder, asindicated by line 3 3 of Fig. l; Fig. Ll, a detail view of the printinglever actuating trip-cam j; Figs. 5 and 6, enlarged detail fragmentalviews of the time-wheel transfer mechanism; F ig. 7, a perspective viewof the time-recorder in its entirety; Fig. S, is a detail view of alocking-mechanism, and F ig. 9, a plan view of a portion of theprinting-wheels together with the in-andout slide in its position ofrest.

Referring by letter to the drawings, A indicates a casing fitted upon abase l, at one end of which is secured a well C for the reception of apaper tape D, that is fed therein from a roll E suitably mounted upon aspindle F at the opposite end of therecorder. The tape D travels overrollers a, which rollers support said tape directly under the top of thecasing, the aforesaid tape is thereafter passed over a feed-roller G andis ield against the feed-roller by a springpressed idle-roller H, fromwhich point the tape is guided over a spindle c into the well. Thefeed-roller Gr is loosely mounted upon a shaft l having bearings in thesides of the casing. One end of the shaft projects through said casingand has secured thereto a hand-lever d, which lever when rocked by theoperator, first serves to impart motion to a printing-mechanism and tlereafter to a paper feedmechanism as hereinafter described.

The paper or tape-feed is accomplished by the following mechanism: if;rock-arm K is secured to the shaft l, having a horizontal pin Zextending in either direction f om the upper end K of the rock-arm, anda coilspring (Z secured to the opposite end. rhis spring is secured to apin projecting .m the casing and holds the rocka stop-pin e, throughwhich pin and spring the hand-lever is held in its forward or restposition. Said rock-arm K has pivoted thereto a pull-pawl L that engagesa ratchetwheel M, which is secured to the adjacent end of thefeed-roller, there beine` stoppawl f pivoted to the casing and engagingthe ratchet-wheel to prevent back-throw of the latter.

By the above describ d arrangement, the hand-lever can be rotatedagainst the tension of spring CZ until the rock-arm comes againstastop-pin g, this movement being sutlicient to permit the pull-pawl L toengage a forward tooth in its ratchet, the hand-lever is then permittedto return to its starting position by the contraction of thecoil-spring, which movement revolves the feed-roller G and moves thepaper-tape the required distance, so that a signature thereon is clearedfrom a slot l?? in the top of the recorder-casing. The length of feed ofthe paper is in proportion to the width of the slot N in the top of thecasing` which slot is provided for the purpose of exposing the paper sothat individuals required to use the machine may sign their naines uponthe tape. The casing-top is slightly depressed lengthwise for a portionof its width over the tape, in order that the same may rest as close aspossible to the underside of the top for convenience of persons .vlienwriting their signatures upon said tape.

A printing-wheel 0 is mounted upon a stud /L of a bracket t', whichbracket is secured to the side of the casing. rEhe printing-wheel; whichwill be termed a minutewheel in a series, carries peripheral typebearingfigures from l to 60, and also has a ratchet-toothed ring O of lessdiameter. The teeth of the ring correspond in number "m li against tothe peripheral type of the wheel O, and are provided for engagement witha pawl P that is carried by a yoked-lever P', the tail of which isactuated by a cam-wheel Q that is driven by a clock-train (not shown)and so timed as to make one revolution per minute. AThe yoke-leverv P isloosely mounted upon the stud /t which `carries the minute-wheel, thetree end of said lever being held against the periphery of the camwheelQ by means ot a spring j that is connected to the aforesaid lever and apin of the clock-train trame K as shown. A spring-controlled click-pawlm is pivoted upon the clock-trame tor engagement with the toothed-ringO', and serves to hold the same against overthrow when actuated by 'theyoke-lever mechanism. As shown, the periphery or" cam-wheel@ vis ofgradual increasing diameter with an abrupt drop, and at the completionof each cycle thereof, a quick drop oi the yoke-lever takes place causedthrough the action of its spring.

This motion is transmitted to the minutewheel, through the pawl R andsaid wheel revolves 1/60 ot a revolution, bringing a type to theprinting-point, indicating the minute, in synchrony with theclock-train.

By the above described mechanism the minute-wheel is intermittentlymoved sixty times an hour, and changes instantly at the expiration oteach minute. Should 'a Vprinting operation be started simultaneous withthe rotation of the minute-wheel, lit would not eiiect the timing otsame with relation to the clock, by reason ot a locking-incohanism,which mechanism serves to `hold the aforesaid wheel, until the vprintingoperation has completed its retarded motion. The locking-mechanismconsists of an arm n eX tending upward from the yoked-lever iP to aposition directly under the printing-point. The end ot the armterminates in a rule jointed spring-controlled latch extension 0, whiciis adapted to engage a tooth p upon a primary anvil p', if the latter ispressed downward as the yoke-lever starts to move the minute-wheel. 1nthis case the said yokelever' would be caught and held by the tooth p,in suspension under its spring-pressure, until the anvil had printed andreturned sufficiently to tree the latch-extension o, at which time theaction of said yoke-lever would be completed and the minute-wheel turnedthereby. if however the anvil should be down at the moment thevlatchextension 0 is passing under the tooth p on its back-stroke, saidlatch would yield by reason of its spring-and-rule joint-connectionwithoutintertering with the operation.

1When the minutewheel has -made a complete revolution, an internal toothq `thereof engages a twelve-tooth pinion p', which pinion constitutes ahub-portion of an `hourwheel Q', and revolves the same one space.

The hour-wheel is mounted upon a stud r, that is eccentric to andprojects from a disk 7"', which .terms part ot the bracket z', and isconnected thereto by a neck-portion s, as best shown in Fig. 3. Thehour-wheel is also provided with peripheral type-characters from 1 to12, which are moved to the printing-point in a manner as stated, and insynchrony wi i the clock. The said wheel upon its tace rartiiest fromthe minute-wheel has a hub-extension with a single tooth 8, which isprovided tor engagen ent with a twenty-tour toothed internal gear ot aring li, which ring is revoluble upon the disk fr, and carriestwenty-teur type-characters La. and P. ld., alternately spacer. aroundits periphery. These type-characters by reason ci the gear-connectionjust described, are moved every twelve hours so that the change to 2r.M. or is made at the printingpoint to designate whether the machine isbeing opera ad to register signatures in the morning, Vaiternoon orevening. rihe wheel M and ring it, constitute part ot the series otprinting members and are provided with spring-dogs Q, g, respectively,which dogs snap in between the type-characters thereon and hold thewheels in their adjusted positions as best shown in Fig. 5, of thedrawings.

ln order that the paper-tape should designate the registration otparties going out of a place ot business as well as entering, we haveprovided reciprocative bar S, having the printing-characters in and Outupon its tace. rThis bar is Ouided at one end by an yarm extending fromthe neck-portion of bracket z', and at the oppositeend by a rod S, whichpasses through a slot in the said bar. r1`he bar is connected to a leverT that is fulcrumed upon a shaft T said lever hcing held in Aits normal,or vertical position by a leaf-spring t. rihe upper end ot the lever Tprojects through a slot in the top -ot the casing, and when at rest thislever holds the bar S to which it is connected in a central -position sothat the types thereon are equi-distant from 'the printing-point, asshown in Fig. 9 ot the drawings. curved finger is secured to the shaft Tits position being such with relation to the lever T, that when thelatter is at rest, the end of the inger is directly in the path of pinCZ of the rock-arm K, thus locking the actuatingmechanism or" themachine until said Finger is raised or lowered, which movement isobtained by molfing the lever T either forward or backward.

By the above means it will be understood that parties usino' the machineare compelled to rst unlock the same by moving the aforesaid lever Tforward or backward, which movement will bring rthe types In or Out tothe printing-point, the direction ot motion coinciding with the type,being indicated upon the face of the casing as shown in F ig. 7, of thedrawings. Thus the operator will bring the desired type to theprinting-point to indicate whether he is leaving or entering a place ofbusiness, a feature which is very desirable where employees are enteringand leaving at various intervals of time.

1n unlocking the machine it is only necessary to hold the lever T untilthe operating handle has been started, as the pin d will then eitherslide over or under the curved surface of the linger and hold the sametogether with the type-bar S in its adjusted position until saidoperating handle has returned to its normal position. This isaccomplished by reason of the upper and lower faces of the linger beingformed on dilferent radial curves concentric with the arc described bysaid pin d, the said curves being struck with relation to the movementof the linger in either direction.

All of the type carrying members are located directly under and near oneedge of the paper as shown, while the signatures are written upon theupper surface of the paper. The printing of the time, etc., however isaranged to be embossed through the paper so that it will appear upon thesame side as the signatures. This is accomplished by placing a ribbon Vbetween the anvil p and the upper surface of the paper, so that whensaid anvil is forced down upon the thin paper, the pressure will besufficient for the ribbon to cause an impression of the type to belegible upon the upper surface of the paper. The anvil is secured to theunderside of the machine casing and held in suspen ion by a spring-stripu, in such'a manner that when said anvil is struck by a quick actinghammer TW, it will immediately rebou d from contact with the ribbon andthus prevent smudging caused through motion of the paper thereunder. Thehammer 1V eX- tends over and rests upon the anvil p', said hammerforming part of a lever VV, which lever is fulcrumed on the rod S', andhas a tail-portion that carries a pivoted gate-cam o arranged in thepath of the pin (l of the rock-arm lil, as best shown in Fig. et, of thedrawings. The hammer-lever W is held in its normal position against astop-pin 'w by a coil-spring fw', and when the rock-arm K is actuated,its pin d engages the upper face of the gate-cam, causing said hammer torise in opposition to .ne spring w. When said pin d, in its forwardmovement, leaves the gate-cam the aforesaid hammer gives a blow to theanvil, the inertia of which causes the saine to strike the ribbon andprint. TJpon the return-stroke of the rock-arm its pin passes under saidgate-cam and lifts the saine vithout disturbing the lever 1V', therebeing a stop projecting from said lever upon which the aforesaidgate-cam rests.

1n some instances it may be desirable, at stated intervals of time tolock the bar S against the tension of its spring, so that it will printeither' the word 1n or Out continuously, in which case we have providedlever T with a set-screw i, which travels in a slot of a detent yprojecting from the top of the casing, and by this means the said leverT may be set in either direction by tightening up the screw to preventthe aforesaid lever from returning to its normal position.

The printing ribbon is mounted upon a spool s and is carried oversuitable guiderollers above the paper-tape to a windingspool e', whichspool is provided with a ratchet-wheel a, that is engaged by aspringcatch 72, fast on the tail of the hammer-lever WC By the abovemeans the ribbon is fed intermittently with each stroke of saidhainmer-lever, and when the ribbon is to be rewound upon the spool e atrip c that is pivoted to the casing, is pressed against thespring-catch b to disengage the same from the ratchet-wheel. Said spoola is then wound in reverse direction, by means of a handle CZ, whichextends through the machine-casing and forms part of the aforesaidspool-spindle.

ris shown in Fig. 7, of the drawings, the clock-mechanism is providedwith the usual face and hands exposed for the convenience of theoperators to show the exact time.

Having described the invention in detail, it will be seen that ourrecorder is so arranged thatthe paper-tape has intermittent feed,independent of the time-printing wheels, which wheels are moved by aminutewheel having intermittent motion imparted thereto by a cani inconnection with the clock-mechanism, it being obviously within the scopeof our invention to vary the contour of the cam and its speed, ifdesired, provided the latter will produce an impulse to the yoke-leverat intervals of one minute. To complete an operation, an employee firstwrites his signature upon the paper tape, then pulls the lever T todesignate whether he is going in or out, and then; in order that aregistration of the time be obtained, the handle must be pulled forward,this motion causes the time to be printed opposite the said signature,and as the operatinghandle is returned to its position of rest throughthe spring connected thereto, the paper feed-mechanism will draw thepaper tape forward sulliciently to clear the signature from the slot andbring a blank space under the same for the next signature. rlhe looseend of the paper tape is fed into the well below and may be detached bythe timekeeper who has access thereto.

To form a solid backing for the paper, when the operator is writing hissignature thereon, a table N is secured to the casing directly under theslot N upon which the paper tape travels andV is supported at thispoint.

ille Claim:

l. An autograph and time printing recorder provided with a slottedeasing for the exposure of a paper tape which tape is adapted to passthereunder, an inking ribbon arranged parallel with the paper strip,between the paper and easing and to one edge of said paper, a series ofclock-Controlled time designating` type-members below the paper, aprinting-lever having a hammer disposed above the ribbon and inalineinent with the slot in the easing, a shaft, a roel;- arm secured tothe shaft for engagement with'the printing-lever, a hand-lever securedto said shattexterior ot' the easing, a paper feed roller looselymounted upon the aforesaid shaft, a ratchet-wheel secured to thefeed-roller7 and a pawl `for engagement with the ratchet-wheelcarried bythe rook-arm.

2. An autograph and time printing recorder provided with a slottedcasing for the exposure of a paper tape, which tape is adapted to passthereunder, an inking ribbon arranged parallel with thel paper strip,between the paper and casing and to one edge of said paper, a series ofclock-controlled time designating type-members below the\ paper, aprinting-lever having a hammer disposed above the ribbon and inalinement with the slot in theeasing, a shaft, a rook-arm secured to theshaft for engagement with the printing-lever, a hand lever secured tosaid shaft exterior of the casing, a paper feed roller loosely mountedupon the aforesaid shaft, a ratchet-wheel secured to the feed-roller, apawl for engagement with the ratchet-wheel Carrier by the rook-arm, atypecarryingV member provided with type-characters designating In andOut adjacent to the time designating type-member, a manually operativelever in Connection with the in and Out type-carrying member, a springin connection with the manually oper.- ative lever, whereby the In andOut designations of said member are normally held away from the printingpoint, and a nger Carried by said lever arranged to normally oppose therock-arm.

in testimony that we claim the foregoing i we hare hereunto set ourhands at Milwaukee iii-the County of Milwaukee and State of llliseonsinin the presence of two witnesses. FRANK H. COTVTRILL. A ALFREDLEIHAMMER. Yiivi'tnesses Grenen E. FLEISCHMANN, XVM. l?. CARMICHAEL.

